Masturbation
Submitted by Jack on February 18 2000 at 14:50:40
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Dear Brothers, I'm new with this message board so forgive me if this is a hackneyed question-- What are your thoughts on masturbation? Yes, I masturbate. Frankly, it is the only relief I can find every few days when the pain of the loneliness becomes so strong that I can not bear it anymore. It does temporarily relieve part of the longing I feel, the sexual part, for a little while. It does not, however, in any way diminish the longing to be in love. I don't feel particularly guilty afterwards, nor do I feel particularly good about myself either. I don't really know if masturbation is a sin or not. The Bible is remarkably silent about this issue. In some ways it seems beneficial in that it prevents the lustful thoughts I would have if I did not practice it. Jesus did say, however, that looking upon somebody lustfully was basically adultery. In that respect I am still guilty though. I do conjure up images of a boy in my mind when I masturbate. If I don't fantasize then the whole thing is completely unsatisfying and I find myself doing it again a little later. Moreover, those lustful images are not nearly so vivid and numerous than when I don't masturbate. When I am tempted I have always tried to resist, sometimes with many hours of prayer,sometimes with distraction and other methods, but I have never been successful. The fight always seems to end with my feeling bitter toward God for making me go through such a battle without any percievable help from Him. His word says that He always leaves a way out of sin, but I tell you truthfully that, in spite of countless hours of soul searching and prayer, I do not know what that way out is. The flesh is weak. I would like to quit masturbation because I feel addicted to it and I know we are called to be slaves to nothing. Still though, is it so bad compared to the fact that I have no possible way of ever falling in love? Please comment. Jack |